Derek Williams just called - he had a juvenile Long Tailed Skua over the pools on Downholland Moss at 9.25am this morning!
Derek watched the bird at ranges down to 15 yards as it came in over the water with two BHGs, flew over the road and headed off towards the coast - not bad for your first inland skua!
Plenty of plumage detail at that range, and flight nicely light and buoyant.
You never know, it might be cruising around a sheltered bay along the coast now - the Mersey rivermouth or Hightown estuary maybe??? Remember the one that hung around for a few weeks off Crosby a year or two back?
Nice one Derek....more of his recent Downholland Moss records follow:
Sept 1st:
Fem and juv Marsh Harrier
3 Sprawks
1 Common Tern
2 Kingfishers
1 Swift
4 Ravens
Sept 2nd:
Juv and female/juv Marsh Harrier
7 Buzzards
Female Merlin
Female Sprawk
Juv Peregrine
Sept 3rd:
Juv Marsh Harrier
6 Buzzards
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Inland wandering by skuas in autumn typically occurs in relatively calm, drizzly, murky weather..just like yesterday's!
The highest tides for some 25 years due between tomorrow (7th) and next Monday. Unfortunately for seawatchers (if not for seaside residents) weather forecast is for calm, anticyclonic conditions from Friday, with light easterlies.
I'll give it a try tomorrow morning; f5-6 NW forecast for north Irish Sea